Clustering of the Diffuse Infrared Light from the COBE DIRBE maps. An all-sky survey of C(0)C(0)

We measure the smoothness of the infrared sky using the COBE DIRBE maps, and obtain interesting limits on the production of the diffuse cosmic infrared background (CIB) light by matter clustered like galaxies. The predicted fluctuations of the CIB with the DIRBE beam size of 0.7\deg\ are of the order of 10\%, and the maps are smooth at the level of $\delta\nu I_\nu \sim$ a few \nwm2sr rms from 2.2 to 100 \um. The lowest numbers are achieved at mid- to far-IR where the foreground is bright but smooth; they are $\sqrt{C(0)}$$\leq$$(1-1.5)$ \nwm2sr at $\lambda=$ 10-100 \um. If the CIB comes from clustered matter evolving according to typical scenarios, then the smoothness of the maps implies CIB levels less than $\sim (10-15)$ \nwm2sr over this wavelength range.Comment: 15 pages (LATEX) with 2 figures and 1 plate; Ap. J. Letters, in pres

Four dimensional studies in earth space

A system of reference which is directly related to observations, is proposed for four-dimensional studies in earth space. Global control network and polar wandering are defined. The determination of variations in the earth's gravitational field with time also forms part of such a system. Techniques are outlined for the unique definition of the motion of the geocenter, and the changes in the location of the axis of rotation of an instantaneous earth model, in relation to values at some epoch of reference. The instantaneous system referred to is directly related to a fundamental equation in geodynamics. The reference system defined would provide an unambiguous frame for long period studies in earth space, provided the scale of the space were specified

On the unification of geodetic leveling datums using satellite altimetry

Techniques are described for determining the height of Mean Sea Level (MSL) at coastal sites from satellite altimetry. Such information is of value in the adjustment of continental leveling networks. Numerical results are obtained from the 1977 GEOS-3 altimetry data bank at Goddard Space Flight Center using the Bermuda calibration of the altimeter. Estimates are made of the heights of MSL at the leveling datums for Australia and a hypothetical Galveston datum for central North America. The results obtained are in reasonable agreement with oceanographic estimates obtained by extrapolation. It is concluded that all gravity data in the Australian bank AUSGAD 76 and in the Rapp data file for central North America refer to the GEOS-3 altimeter geoid for 1976.0 with uncertainties which do not exceed + or - 0.1 mGal

Clustering of the Diffuse Infrared Light from the COBE DIRBE maps. I. C(0)C(0) and limits on the near-IR background

This paper is devoted to studying the CIB through its correlation properties. We studied the limits on CIB anisotropy in the near IR (1.25, 2.2, and 3.5 \um, or $J,\;K,\;L$) bands at a scale of 0.7\deg\ using the COBE\footnote{ The National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC) is responsible for the design, development, and operation of the {\it COBE}. Scientific guidance is provided by the {\it COBE} Science Working Group. GSFC is also responsible for the development of the analysis software and for the production of the mission data sets.} Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) data. In single bands we obtain the upper limits on the zero-lag correlation signal $C(0)= \langle(\nu \delta I_\nu)^2\rangle < 3.6 \times 10^{-16},\; 5.1 \times 10^{-17},\; 5.7 \times 10^{-18}$ \w2m4sr2 for the $J,K,L$ bands respectively. The DIRBE data exhibit a clear color between the various bands with a small dispersion. On the other hand most of the CIB is expected to come from redshifted galaxies and thus should have different color properties. We use this observation to develop a `color subtraction' method of linear combinations of maps at two different bands. This method is expected to suppress the dominant fluctuations from foreground stars and nearby galaxies, while not reducing (or perhaps even amplifying) the extragalactic contribution to $C(0)$. Applying this technique gives significantly lower and more isotropic limits.Comment: 44 pages postcript; includes 5 tables, 14 figures. Astrophysical Journal, in pres

The analysis of temporal variations in regional models of the Sargasso Sea from GEOS-3 altimetry

The dense coverage of short pulse mode GEOS-3 altimeter data in the western North Atlantic provides a basis for studying time variations in the sea surface heights in the Sargasso Sea. Two techniques are utilized: the method of regional models, and the analysis of overlapping passes. An 88 percent correlation is obtained between the location of cyclonic eddies obtained from infrared imagery and sea surface height minima in the altimeter models. This figure drops to 59 percent in the case of correlations with maxima and minima of surface temperature fields. The analysis of overlapping passes provides a better picture of instantaneous sea state through wavelengths greater than 30 km. The variability of the Sargasso Sea through wavelengths between 150 km and 5000 km is estimated at + or - 28 cm. This value is in reasonable agreement with oceanographic estimates and is compatible with the eddy kinetic energy of a wind driven circulation

Cosmic Infrared Background Fluctuations and Zodiacal Light

We have performed a specific observational test to measure the effect that the zodiacal light can have on measurements of the spatial fluctuations of the near-IR background. Previous estimates of possible fluctuations caused by zodiacal light have often been extrapolated from observations of the thermal emission at longer wavelengths and low angular resolution, or from IRAC observations of high latitude fields where zodiacal light is faint and not strongly varying with time. The new observations analyzed here target the COSMOS field, at low ecliptic latitude where the zodiacal light intensity varies by factors of $\sim2$ over the range of solar elongations at which the field can be observed. We find that the white noise component of the spatial power spectrum of the background is correlated with the modeled zodiacal light intensity. Roughly half of the measured white noise is correlated with the zodiacal light, but a more detailed interpretation of the white noise is hampered by systematic uncertainties that are evident in the zodiacal light model. At large angular scales ($\gtrsim100"$) where excess power above the white noise is observed, we find no correlation of the power with the modeled intensity of the zodiacal light. This test clearly indicates that the large scale power in the infrared background is not being caused by the zodiacal light.Comment: 17 pp. Accepted for publication in the Ap

New measurements of cosmic infrared background fluctuations from early epochs

Cosmic infrared background fluctuations may contain measurable contribution from objects inaccessible to current telescopic studies, such as the first stars and other luminous objects in the first Gyr of the Universe's evolution. In an attempt to uncover this contribution we have analyzed the GOODS data obtained with the Spitzer IRAC instrument, which are deeper and cover larger scales than the Spitzer data we have previously analyzed. Here we report these new measurements of the cosmic infrared background (CIB) fluctuations remaining after removing cosmic sources to fainter levels than before. The remaining anisotropies on scales > 0.5 arcmin have a significant clustering component with a low shot-noise contribution. We show that these fluctuations cannot be accounted for by instrumental effects, nor by the Solar system and Galactic foreground emissions and must arise from extragalactic sources.Comment: Ap.J.Letters, in pres

Smallholder Farming Under Increasingly Difficult Circumstances: Policy and Public Investment Priorities for Africa

Agricultural and Food Policy,